“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.” – John 15: 1-4
Jesus’ words to the disciples about the importance of staying close to the vine (speaking of Himself) are true for us today. Although hearing the words “pruning” and “purifying” give me a slight twitch - because they just sound painful to me - I know that a loving Father allows the pruning process in order to bring the best out of us and for His kingdom.
In the same way that pouring love in our hearts produces love; so hate also will produce an out-pouring of hate. What we feed our heart, determines the fruit, or lack thereof. And anything negative we let fester in our heart, will come out eventually.
God prunes and cuts away. I think this looks different for each of us and in different seasons of our lives. Sometimes it can simply come as an awakening to us and sometimes it can be brutally painful.
When we know that the end result will always bring out fruit in us, as Jesus followers, even though it might be painful, we need to embrace the pruning and purifying and continue to trust Him in the process.
Maybe we need a pruning that is going to change a mindset in us that we’ve adopted but doesn’t mirror the mind of Christ. Maybe we need a pruning where relationships are reassessed because they’re unhealthy and aren’t producing a reflection of love. Maybe the pruning removes the blinders we’ve been wearing and now that we see things in a different light, we have some work to do, to make a greater impact.
We need the pruning for ourselves, and for the world around us. Let’s face it, our world sure could use more “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-24)
I’m praying for intimacy with the Vine today. For clarity in my own heart and mind, where there’s no turning to the left or the right to see if others are doing or saying, or experiencing what I am; but that I would trust His leading. Trust His process. And hold to the fact that revelation begins in my own heart, and change begins within me. I’m asking God to help me to remain in Him. To keep as close to Him as possible.
“…remain in me.”
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